Car-bolster.



Patented Sept. 5, I899.

J. PLAYER.

CAR BOLSTER.

[Application filed Jan. 30, 1899.1

2 Sheets-Sheet I (No Model.)

J2 we)? %21 Wage/Z Jim Patented Sept. 5, I899.

J. PLAYER.

CAR BOLSTER.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1899.3

2 Sheets Sh'eet 2,

(No Model.)

ZZZwJJw/ UNITED STATES PATENT E rcE.

JOHN PLAYER, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

CAR-BOLSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,426, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed January 30, 1899. Serial No 703,864. (No model.)

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN PLAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Bolsters, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient car-bolster for railway-cars.

A further object is to provide a simple, economical, and eliicient car-bolster of such construction and arrangement that it may be easily assembled or disassociated for purposes of repair or replacement.

Further objects will appear from an examination of the drawings and the following de scription and claims.

The invention consists principally in the combination of two independent side bars and spring-seats removably-secured to such side bars to hold them together.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a car-bolster constructed in accordance with my improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4:, a longitudinal sectional View taken through one of the side bars on line 4 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6, cross-sectional views taken on lines 5 and 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a plan view of the upper portion of one of the springseats, and Fig. 8 a plan view of the center tie-plate looking at it from the top.

In the art to which this invention relates it is usual to make car-bolster castings in which all of the parts are formed in one integral piece. There are various objections to this class of bolsters-first, in that they are heavy and cumbersome to handle while operating on them to render them fit for commercial use; second, they are expensive to ship, in that they take up considerable space and are heavy and cumbersome to handle, and, third, they are expensive to use, in that as soon as one part of the bolster is broken or worn out the entire bolster has to be thrown away. The principal object of my invention,

therefore, is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient bolster made in several operative parts and adapted to interlock or engage with each other in such manner that one part acts to tie and sustain some other part and which will be economical to handle or repair.

In constructing a car-bolster in accordance with my improvements I make two independent side bars A and A of the desired size, shape, and strength, and which are practically cambered in appearancethat is, widest at the center and narrowest at the endsso as to resist the maximum strain and stress when subjected to use. These side bars are provided with internally-projecting ribs a, forming trusses, as it were, to connect the upper and lower flanges a of the side bars together, and which tend to distribute the strains and stress incident to use throughout the entire bolster. These bars are provided with perforated lugs or loops a a a, and o to receive the other parts.

To connect the side bars together, firmly hold them in position,and present parts which are necessary to form an operative car-bolster, I provide two spring plates or seats B, having strengthening-ribs b projecting upwardly therefrom and transversely thereof. These spring-seats are provided with four vertical lugs b, two arranged at or near each lateral edge thereof and adapted to be passed through the perforated lugs or loops a of the side gether. Two side bearings O are provided, having downwardly-projecting lugs 0 thereon, one at or near each lateral edge of the same, and which are adapted to be passed through the perforated lugs or loops a at or near the ends of the'upper part of the side bars. These lugs are located directly over the spring-seats and act to connect the side bars at or near their upper portion together. A center-plate D is provided, which has two downwardly-projecting lugs d at or near each lateral edge thereof, adapted to be passed through the perforated lugs or loops or on the side bars, and which act to connect the same together at or near their upper central portion. A center tie-plate E is next provided, which has two upwardlyprojecting lugs 6 passed through the perforated lugs or loops bars, thus tying and connecting the same toa on the side bars, and which act to connect the car-bolster at or near its lower portion.

From the foregoing description or construction and an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the only parts of which this bolster is composed are the side bars, springseats, center plate, side bearings, and the center tie-plate, all of which are so con structed and arranged that they interlock with the side bars and each acts to modify some other part and hold it in its operative position. As a consequence of this construction and arrangement the car bolster is formed of the least amount of material adapted to resist the maximum strains. Further, the difierent parts may be made in quantities independently of the other, operated upon economically, assembled with the least possible expense of labor and time, and finally renders the bolster economical to use, in that worn out or broken parts may be easily replaced or repaired. It will also be observed that the usual expensive process of coring can be dispensed with when the castings are formed in this way.

One of the principal advantages incident to the use of my improvements is thatI have so constructed and arranged the parts as to take advantage of the lines of force incident to use. For instance, the spring-seats are placed on the under side of the end portions of the bolster, so that the force of pressing the springs against the transom-plates acts to lock the parts of the bolster more tightly Again, the center-plate is so artogether.

ranged that the weight of the car-body on the bolster tends to lock this part more closely in engagement with the side bars of the bolster. The same is true of the side bars, and the same is also true of the center tie-plate.

I claim 1. In a car-bolster, the combination of two independent side bars having integral perforated lugs extending out laterally therefrom, and a spring-seat at or near each end provided with projections adapted to engage with the perforated lugs on the side bars and lock the parts together, substantially as described.

2. In a car-bolster, the combination of two independent side bars provided with integral perforated lugs, and spring-seats, side bearings and center plate provided with integral projections removably engaging the perforated lugs to lock the parts together, substantially as described.

3. In a car-bolster, the combination of two independent side bars provided with trussribs projecting inwardly and laterally therefrom, integral perforated lugs extending out laterally therefrom, and two spring-seats, two side bearings, a center tie-plate and a center plate provided with integral projecting lugs or studs removably engaged with the perforated lugs to lock the parts together, substantially as described.

' JOHN PLAYER.

Vitnesses:

E. C. BEYNON, 'W. C. PEYTON. 

